Samsun has a special place in the republican history of Turkey, as this is where the republic's founder, Kemal Atatürk, has set foot to start the War of Independence in 1919.

===Climate===

===Climate===

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==Get in==

==Get in==

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There are a lot of vehicles to get in. For example; Plane, Train, Bus, Car,…

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The local airport is called '''Samsun-Çarşamba Airport''' ({{IATA|SZF}}, {{ICAO|LTFH}}), 23 km from the city centre. There are frequent flights from [[Istanbul]], daily from other big Turkish cities and some international (mainly from Germany) flights in summer.

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If yo far away to Samsun, you can prefer the plane. But, plane is more expensive. Therefore, people prefers the bus or the car. However the plane is very fast and most safe vehicle.

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If you are in Ankara, İstabul or İzmir, you should prefer the plane.

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Buses are a cheaper and slower alternative.

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The local airport is called '''Samsun-Çarşamba Airport''' ({{IATA|SZF}}, {{ICAO|LTFH}}), 23 km from the city centre. There are flights from [[Istanbul]] and other big cities almost every day.

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Bus is cheap a vehicle. Therefore, Turkish people usually prefers the bus. But bus journey isn’t most safe. Because, at Turkish overland transport have an accident.

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Samsun also has a railway connection with the [[Central Anatolia|interior of the country]], with passenger trains plying the route between Samsun and [[Sivas]] via [[Amasya]] back and forth. As with the rest of Turkey, this is the slowest alternative for getting in.

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You can prefer train for trip but it can just prefer for someplaces.If you come to Samsun from İstanbul,Ankara,or İzmir, you can’t prefer train.Because there isn’trailway from Samsun to İstanbul,Ankara,İzmir.But if you are in Sivas ,you can prefer it.Train is very slow.

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==Get around==

==Get around==

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There are a lot of vehicles to get around. For example; Tram, Taxi, Bus or ''Dolmus''…

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The city has a network of trams, buses, ''dolmuş''es, and taxis.

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The city travelcard is called Samkart and can be bought at the main tram stops.

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Tram is most common vehicle in Samsun. There are 21 station. First station is Gar. Last station is University. Tram is most safe and most comfortable. Tram moves to with electric energy.

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The very modern tramway, with its 21 stations all along the city between its terminii of ''Gar'' (mainline train station) and University stations, is possibly the most useful option.

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You can prefer ''Dolmuş''. What does ''Dolmuş'' mean? ''Dolmuş'' which use is a vehicle for transport in Samsun.It’s like a mini-bus. ''Dolmuş'' is very common here. If you want to go quickly,you should prefer ''Dolmuş''. ''Dolmuş'' is faster than other vehicles. There fore people prefers that. When you come first time,you should use those,you can find your destination easier.

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''Dolmuş'' are much more frequent than buses - you can always ask the driver details on where to get off, etc.

==See==

==See==

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Firstly, you should visit Bandırma Boat. Independent War had started in Samsun, Bandırma boat by Atatürk. In Bandırma boat has a lot of historical photographs about Atatürk and his friends. You can read about the war and watch a short film.

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* Replica of '''SS ''Bandırma'''''. This is the replica of the ferry that took Kemal Atatürk from Istanbul to the port of Samsun. Inside, there is a collection of photographs of Atatürk and his comrades. You can also watch a short film.

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Other places where you can see, Gazi museum in Mecidiye and Etnografya museum nearly Cumhuriyet Center. Gazi museum tells you about Atatürk’s life in Samsun. You can see his clothes and his special things and you can see historical and amazing objects in Etnografya museum.

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*'''Atatürk and his comrades'''. Walking from the bottom of 19 Mayis Blv towards the sea you can see life size models of historical figures; and Atatürk and his comrades alighting from another, partial, replica of the Bandırma at the sea front.

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Absolutely you should see the sculptures like lively person in Cumhuriyet Center. They are wonderful.

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* '''Museums'''.

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Amisos Hill

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Gazi Museum in Mecidiye is a witness to Atatürk's activities while in Samsun. It collection includes some clothes and personal paraphernalia, purportedly belonging to him.

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There is an amazing sea view. There are some historical skeletoms. There some cafes. You can go there by cablecar or you can go by car. If you don`t want use this vehicle, you can walk up from Baruthane.

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Red River

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The Archaeology and Ethnographic Museum near Cumhuriyet Center is dedicated to local history and artifacts, including the golden Amisos Treasure.

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It name is coming from it`s color. Red river the longest river in Turkey. It is lonkies 1.355 km. it is fed by rains water and snows water meet. It has 320 different varietics of birds and lots of fishes.

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Göğceli ( without nails ) Mosque.

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* '''Amisos Hill''' offers a sea view, Hellanistic era tombs, and cafes in pleasant grounds. From the city centre take either number 1 (red) dolmus west to its last stop or tram to Baruthane: then walk up. Alternatively take the cable car from Batı Park.

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The place is very interesting because It is mysterious, It happened in onenight and without nail. It’s been in cemetery. When you go you can perform the ritual prayer in Göğceli mosque and you can pray. It’s up to you.

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* '''Kızılırmak Delta'''. This is the delta plain of Turkey's longest river (1355 km source to sea), Kızılırmak (literally "red river", due to its colour). The delta is great for birdwatching (320 species of birds call there home) as well as for fishing.

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* '''Göğceli Mosque''', Çay Mahallesi (''inside Göğceli cemetery''). One of the rare wooden mosques in Turkey, this one dates back to 1206, and its construction does not involve even a single nail (all wooden plates were inserted through each other).

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* '''Sea Front'''

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Good for walking or cycling, or you can take a ride in a horse drawn carriage.

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* '''Bedestan'''

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* '''Parks'''

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In summer locals love to barbeque in the big parks and drink tea from samovars.

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Atatürk Park (aka Egg Park as you will see)

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Central, small and shady: with the famous statue.

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Dogu Park (East Park)

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By the sea. There is a lot of tree, basketball and football area and a lot of cafe. From here you could walk up the River Mert.

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Batı Park (West Park)

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Big, with plenty of kitsch. Also by the sea but the trees have not had much time to grow yet. Take dolmus or tram to Baruthane.

==Do==

==Do==

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PAINTBALL

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Paintball is one of the most enjoyable play for Samsun people. Every time you can play it and enjoy. Paintball is played in Körfez. Körfez is so far to city center and there are empty area in there , so this advantage for paintball.

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GO KART

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* '''Boat trip'''. A trip along the coast which takes 2 hours, on a boat named ''Samsunum'' ("my Samsun").

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Go kart is another activity which you can do in Samsun. There ar ego kart area in Batıpark. Batıpark is big and suitable for go kart. That is so exciting!

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BOAT TRIP

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* '''Horseriding'''. There is a course in town.

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In addıtıon, you can go on with ‘SAMSUNUM’ ship on Black Sea . this trip spends 2 hours and you can see all beach of Samsun.

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WATERSKIING

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* '''Fishing'''. Black Sea is rich in fish varieties.

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You can do waterskiing in Samsun. It is not popular , but if you know waterskiing , you can do it on Black Sea.

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Horse Farms

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* '''Beaches'''. In Samsun Beach, there are nice cafes.

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You can do a lot of things for relaxing. If you like animals, I think the most honest animals are horses. In Samsun, there is a horse farm and you can go course in there. If you know riding horse, you can ride a horse without courses.

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Festivals

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*'''Arts'''. If you are interested in arts, you will find a thing or two that you might like. There is a very large and interesting opera building with weekly shows.

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There are two different and enjoyable festivals in Samsun. These festivals start to become traditional. First festival is about bikes and kites. Every year, we do some competitions and they are very enjoyable. Second festival is in OMU. Omu is a university in Samsun. During the festival, there are some concerts and a lot of famous singers in Turkey come to Samsun. These festivals usually make in the end of June.

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Arts

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* '''Festivals'''. Two festivals are celebrated annually in the city. Some competitions are held during the '''Bike Festival'''. On the other hand, concerts of popular singers are to be found during the '''Festival of OMÜ''' (''Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi'', one of the local universities). Both festivals are usually celebrated around the end of June.

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If you interest in arts, you find a lot of places and things in Samsun. There is a very big and interesting opera building. Each week, there are a lot of nice plays are showed people.

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Fishing

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*'''Talk to the locals'''. For a city of half a million there are very few foreigners: so most people will be happy to chat if you want to. Try the sea front, parks or outdoor cafes. No need to feel lonely if you are travelling on your own: just ask one of the many English language schools if their students need any conversation practice - especially if you are a native English speaker they will welcome you with open arms.

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Samsun has beautiful sea and beach. For example, you can swim or catch fishes. There are a lot of kind alive in the Black Sea. After you have a rest at beach. In Samsun beach, there are a lot of beautiful, enjoyable cafes. You` ll love HERE.

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===Sports===

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* '''Paintball'''. There is a paintball ground in the locality known as Körfez, somewhat far from city centre.

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* '''Go Karting'''. There is a go kart course in Batıpark (West Park)

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* '''Water Skiing'''. In summer water skiiers are towed around by an overhead circuit, near Dogupark (East Park)

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==Buy==

==Eat==

==Eat==

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These ''pide''s are totally unique to the city, so don't expect to find them anywhere else.

These ''pide''s are totally unique to the city, so don't expect to find them anywhere else.

* [[Amasya]] to south is a pleasant riverside city with whitewashed houses and plenty of other historic attractions.

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* [[Amasya]] (3 hours by train or 2 by coach) to the south is a pleasant riverside city with whitewashed houses and plenty of other historic attractions. Train (7.5 TL single) is the nicest way to travel there: after leaving the outskirts of Samsun in the morning the first hour of the journey is the most scenic; peach orchards followed by a steep green river valley. The train is comfortable with plenty of space: but bring your own snacks or drinks as none are served.

Get in

The local airport is called Samsun-Çarşamba Airport (IATA: SZF, ICAO: LTFH), 23 km from the city centre. There are frequent flights from Istanbul, daily from other big Turkish cities and some international (mainly from Germany) flights in summer.

Buses are a cheaper and slower alternative.

Samsun also has a railway connection with the interior of the country, with passenger trains plying the route between Samsun and Sivas via Amasya back and forth. As with the rest of Turkey, this is the slowest alternative for getting in.

Get around

The city has a network of trams, buses, dolmuşes, and taxis.

The city travelcard is called Samkart and can be bought at the main tram stops.

The very modern tramway, with its 21 stations all along the city between its terminii of Gar (mainline train station) and University stations, is possibly the most useful option.

Dolmuş are much more frequent than buses - you can always ask the driver details on where to get off, etc.

See

Replica of SS Bandırma. This is the replica of the ferry that took Kemal Atatürk from Istanbul to the port of Samsun. Inside, there is a collection of photographs of Atatürk and his comrades. You can also watch a short film.

Atatürk and his comrades. Walking from the bottom of 19 Mayis Blv towards the sea you can see life size models of historical figures; and Atatürk and his comrades alighting from another, partial, replica of the Bandırma at the sea front.

Museums.

Gazi Museum in Mecidiye is a witness to Atatürk's activities while in Samsun. It collection includes some clothes and personal paraphernalia, purportedly belonging to him.

The Archaeology and Ethnographic Museum near Cumhuriyet Center is dedicated to local history and artifacts, including the golden Amisos Treasure.

Amisos Hill offers a sea view, Hellanistic era tombs, and cafes in pleasant grounds. From the city centre take either number 1 (red) dolmus west to its last stop or tram to Baruthane: then walk up. Alternatively take the cable car from Batı Park.

Kızılırmak Delta. This is the delta plain of Turkey's longest river (1355 km source to sea), Kızılırmak (literally "red river", due to its colour). The delta is great for birdwatching (320 species of birds call there home) as well as for fishing.

Göğceli Mosque, Çay Mahallesi (inside Göğceli cemetery). One of the rare wooden mosques in Turkey, this one dates back to 1206, and its construction does not involve even a single nail (all wooden plates were inserted through each other).

Sea Front

Good for walking or cycling, or you can take a ride in a horse drawn carriage.

Bedestan

Parks

In summer locals love to barbeque in the big parks and drink tea from samovars.

Atatürk Park (aka Egg Park as you will see)

Central, small and shady: with the famous statue.

Dogu Park (East Park)

By the sea. There is a lot of tree, basketball and football area and a lot of cafe. From here you could walk up the River Mert.

Batı Park (West Park)

Big, with plenty of kitsch. Also by the sea but the trees have not had much time to grow yet. Take dolmus or tram to Baruthane.

Do

Boat trip. A trip along the coast which takes 2 hours, on a boat named Samsunum ("my Samsun").

Horseriding. There is a course in town.

Fishing. Black Sea is rich in fish varieties.

Beaches. In Samsun Beach, there are nice cafes.

Arts. If you are interested in arts, you will find a thing or two that you might like. There is a very large and interesting opera building with weekly shows.

Festivals. Two festivals are celebrated annually in the city. Some competitions are held during the Bike Festival. On the other hand, concerts of popular singers are to be found during the Festival of OMÜ (Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi, one of the local universities). Both festivals are usually celebrated around the end of June.

Talk to the locals. For a city of half a million there are very few foreigners: so most people will be happy to chat if you want to. Try the sea front, parks or outdoor cafes. No need to feel lonely if you are travelling on your own: just ask one of the many English language schools if their students need any conversation practice - especially if you are a native English speaker they will welcome you with open arms.

Sports

Paintball. There is a paintball ground in the locality known as Körfez, somewhat far from city centre.

Go Karting. There is a go kart course in Batıpark (West Park)

Water Skiing. In summer water skiiers are towed around by an overhead circuit, near Dogupark (East Park)

Buy

Eat

Pide is one of Samsun's delicious 'events' and has four different types available Kapalı, peynirli-yumurtalı (cheese&egg), pastırmalı-yumurtalı (spicy bacon&egg) and sucuklu-yumurtalı (Turkish wurst&egg) although there are some further varieties also possible such as spinach, kavurmalı etc.

The local people all eat pide every Sunday almost ritualistically.

These pides are totally unique to the city, so don't expect to find them anywhere else.

Şehr-i Eskiden (Museum Cafe & Restaurant), Lise Cad. No.32 (Just up from the corner of Lise Cad. and Istiklal Cad., on the right), ☎(0362) 233 62 08. Eat traditional food, drink Ottoman sherbert and talk about all the old stuff.

Drink

Sleep

Contact

Internet

TTNET wifi at the airport is slower than the local tortoises.

Get out

Amasya (3 hours by train or 2 by coach) to the south is a pleasant riverside city with whitewashed houses and plenty of other historic attractions. Train (7.5 TL single) is the nicest way to travel there: after leaving the outskirts of Samsun in the morning the first hour of the journey is the most scenic; peach orchards followed by a steep green river valley. The train is comfortable with plenty of space: but bring your own snacks or drinks as none are served.

Sinop (3 hours) to west is a historic city enclosed by preserved ancient walls on what is the tip of Anatolia's northernmost cape.

Ordu (2.5 hours) to east is on the way to more popular cities and sites of eternally rainy and green Eastern Black Sea.